What is Lumber?

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Hardwood or Softwood?

Contrary to popular belief, whether a wood is classified as hardwood or softwood has nothing to do with the wood's density. In fact, some of the least-dense woods (such as Poplar and Bassalt) are classified as hardwoods.

The classification comes from the molecular structure of the wood/tree. Hardwoods have pores and vessel elements that transport water. In contrast, Softwoods have only two types of cells -- transverse ray cells and longetudinal wood fibers (tracheids). Water is transported via the tracheids only in softwoods.

Further differentiation is seen in the reproductive structure of the two. All trees produce seeds. The composition of the seeds, however, is different. Harwood trees are angiosperms - plants that produce seeds with a hard covering or shell. (apple tree, oak tree).

Softwoods are gymnosperms and allow seeds to fall to the ground "as is", or with no covering. (conifer trees). Therefore it is accurate to say that all evergreens are softwoods, while all diciduous trees are hardwoods.

Here's a quick comparison chart that outlines several more differences: